Ruth Hiller from the Israeli organization New Profile sent along this important petition. As this site has reported multiple times, there is an ongoing effort to push Palestinians out of the city of Jaffa and growing political repression against the Palestinians who remain. The case of Samieh Jabbarin is just the latest example.
If you are interested in signing the petition you can find it at http://www.atzuma.co.il/
DETENTION AS A MEANS TO POLITICAL SILENCING: THE CASE OF THEATER ARTIST SAMIEH JABBARIN
The house-arrest for an indefinite period of time of Jaffa-based theater artist Samieh Jabbarin (pictured right) signals a sharp escalation in the harassment of citizens engaged democratically and legally in expressing their political views.
The case of Samieh Jabbarin exposes the close cooperation of the Israeli Security Services, police and Attorney General's office. A crass attempt is being made to incriminate a peace-seeking social-political activist by fabricating charges of violence. Unfortunately, the courts of justice have not yet put a halt to this mode of action.
The facts:
Samieh Jabbarin, 41-years old, a citizen of Israel native of Um al Fahm, is a theater and film director. He was professionally and academically trained in Germany and is currently completing his Masters degree at the Theater Arts Department of Tel Aviv University. Upon his return to his native country, he settled in Jaffa and, among other things, engaged in the struggle against the current wave of attempts to evict Arab-Palestinian residents. Samieh is also active in the Abna al Balad movement and was among the organizers of last year's Haifa conference on the Right of Return and a secular democratic state. Last December he helped organize public mourning rallies and non-violent protests against the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
In January 2009, Samieh was warned by the Security Services that a way will be found to punish him for this civil and political activity. The opportunity presented itself on February 10th, general election day in Israel. A group of extreme rightist fanatics announced their intention to serve as official monitors of the voting process in Um al Fahm, second largest Arab city in Israel. Samieh, a native of this town, joined residents in a protest demonstration. He was arrested along with a fellow-resident minutes after the event began. On the very next day – in unprecedented haste – detailed charges were presented at the Hadera court against him for supposedly assaulting the Chief of the Northern Border Patrol, Commander Uri Mor-Yossef.
All attempts to disprove and deny such outright deception have been in vain. The open 'secret' is that Israeli police video-document all demonstrations and arrests.
In this case, however, no evidence was produced beyond the police officer's own statement.
Samieh was held prisoner in Kishon Prison under harsh conditions for seventeen days, and following a legal struggle, was transferred to strict house-arrest at his parents' home in Um al Fahm. Two family members must be with him at all times, and an electronic shackle is attached to his ankle.
Officially, this ruling is in force "until the end of the legal proceedings". These proceedings, however, have come to a strange near-halt: in sharp contrast to the speed with which it charged him, the system is in no hurry to expose the prosecution's evidence at an open trial. The prosecution "forgot" to summon Samieh and his attorneys to the indictment last month. Consequently, another indictment has been set for April 27th and who knows how many months will elapse until the trial itself.
Thus, Samieh Jabbarin is denied access to his creative work, his studies, and his normal living environment. His fate also serves as a blatant warning to intimidate other social and political activists.
We appeal to all who are personally committed to fundamental democratic values to raise their voice and demand an immediate end to this deplorable affair. We must expose the questionable method of false accusations and frame-ups in attempting to silence political resisters. This appeal is directed at
Stage, television and film artists both in Israel and abroad;
- Journalists of the printed and electronic media
- Persons visibly active in education and culture
- Lawyers and other members of the justice community
- Social and human-rights activists everywhere
- Citizens who still care about democracy – wherever they are -
We are all called upon to act for the freedom of speech, the freedom of congregation and the freedom of non-violent political activity of Samieh Jabbarin as well as all other citizens of Israel – Jews and Arabs alike.
IT IS INCONCEIVABLE THAT CRITICAL THINKING AND NON-VIOLENT RESISTANCE BE PUNISHED BY INCRIMINATION OF VIOLENCE, ARREST AND MASSIVE SILENCING!
Related posts:
- Update: Palestinian human rights activist being held without charges in indefinite solitary confinement
- Brando, Native American Activist, Gave Money to Irgun Out of Gratitude to Jews Who Helped Him in the Arts
- ‘I was born Palestinian’: Laila El-Haddad’s story of trying to return home to Gaza
- Israeli Soldiers Attack Home of Palestinian Whistle-Blower
- ‘Cutting the grass’: Israeli soldiers pull 63-year-old Palestinian from home in middle of night
{ 11 comments }
This why nonviolent protest will be so difficult for the Palestinians. The zionist know as well as we do that non-violence works. Therefore it is imperative to crush any who try that tactic.
They prefer suicide bombings — think of all the good publicity that Israel received inexchange for the 1000 Israeli lives given up during the second intifada. Small price to pay considering it is a demographic struggle and the number of lives lost were small compared to birth rate.
Violent struggle is good for Israel but non-violent protest we be their end.
Agreed, Non-violent protest joined by humanists around the world..
This so reminds me of Russia or Egypt. Next they'll put him in a mental hospital.
They prefer suicide bombings
Too true! Selling protection is good business for Israel and the other capos.
"This why nonviolent protest will be so difficult for the Palestinians."
Make that non-violent protest has never been effective for the Palestinians. There is a long, and full history of Palestinian non-violent action against Zionism and Israel going back at least to the '30's. There have been Palestinian leaders who advocated and practiced non-violent protest and civil disobedience. The most famous of them was illegally deported by Israel. The First Intifada was overwhelmingly non-violent, including movements to reduce dependence on Israel for goods and services.
Non-violence is an important part of resistance, but it will not work alone against a determined and overwhelmingly powerful oppressor.
Shirin is right once again, the history of Palestinian passive resistance is very long, though you'd never know about thanks to Uncle Sam's MSM. Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh has written about in great detail with thorough footnote support; he is a Professor at Bethlehem University and is the President of the Administrative Board for the Rapproachement Center in Beit Sahou. I think he use to be at Duke U.
Jeez, I don't want to scare anyone but Jabbarin looks like he could be Phil's twin brother. Where are you at on the donations, Phil?
Did Witty send you a donation?
Citizen, I know Mazin Qumsiyeh, and yes, he has written quite a lot about Palestinian non-violent resistance. As I recall he intends to publish a book on the subject.
But I would not call it passive resistance as much Palestinian non-violent resistance has been and is very active, consisting of civil disobedience as well as demonstrations, and so on. Children defying attempts by Israel to block them from going to school is a form of resistance. I remember hearing about teachers and students conducting their classes right at the barricades in front of the same soldiers who had blocked them from reaching the schools. But there have also been organized, planned acts of disobedience and defiance.
The symbol of that one lone protester in Tian An Mien square standing up to the tanks. What an inspirational message! The Chinese tank camander was unable to crush him under the threads of that tank — he too must have realized the significance of that brave souls stand.
In Israel, the bulldozer driver simply ran over Rachel Corrie because he knew, as did his superiors, that non violent protest would not be accepted in Israel.
It's sad how cruel and unpunished Israel has been. The challenge to non-violence is not just to do it, but to be effective like Shirin points out.
The zionists will always claim to be retaliating, no matter what violence and cruelty is exposed, and the western media will back them up.
When activists struggle to expose Israeli cruelty, we tend to focus on the problem instead of the solution. Meanwhile, most american jews think that Palestinians want to throw the Israelis into the sea.
@ syvanen
Good point re comparing how Rachel Corrie was run over by the monster dozer (made in, paid for by US taxpayers) while the red tank stopped.
Some types of lives are just cheaper than others; interesting who wears which hat these days.
Comments on this entry are closed.